The Teacher’s Journal

My earliest memories or awarenesses around yoga are enmeshed within my curiosity about India. I was about 9-years old. I thumbed thru many books. There still exists in my mind pictures of seriously thin foreign men photograped in wierd positions.

Then, during my tweens, i found the Kama Sutra hidden away in my parent’s bedroom! I don’t remember what I was looking for, perhaps I was simply just looking. However, the pictures (and later the words) caused me to pause and reflect. No. Not about the Kama Sutra, but about Yoga & all the Eastern philosophies, traditions, and religions from this part of our planet. Their approach to life as a whole resonated with something deep in my soul.

I got really curious for decades to come…………

Later on (1976) I found a local yoga class which I enjoyed but dropped out right after the first 6 weeks were up. I didn’t want to stretch my body. I yearned to stretch my mind/spirit.

I began to study on my own and explored nearly all of the mystical paths of knowledge. I found & joined small groups of people, all who were looking to expand their consciousness using the methods of ancient times. Native American, Wiccan, Sufi, Zen Buddhists, Taoism, Central American Shamanism, Celtic Shamanists, etc. And, of course, the Yogi’s and their 20th century representatives.

Around 1989 I was lucky enough to stumble upon The School of Practical Philosophy where I began to practice and learn vedanta. For more than 5 years I was able to engage in the practice of jnana yoga and discover buddhi, the intellect. We also practiced Karma Yoga on weekend retreats. During our time on retreat we also learned: sanskrit, dance, nada yoga, and vedic mathematics. Stretching my mind in this way created an internal response in my body.

I was ready to return to hatha yoga and integrate my mind with my body.

So, I returned to ‘yoga classes’ to learn more about all those poses. This was 1992 and in 2000 I completed my first teacher training. Teaching yoga was not a priority for me. However, teaching (anything) is a very fulfilling and enjoyable activity for me. Teaching yoga felt amazingly natural! Who knew?
Today, I have a small studio that I consider to be more of a classroom than a ‘yoga studio’. Over the past 6 years hundreds of students have come thru the door looking for something ‘fulfilling’. Many students from my very first classes are still with me.
I continue to be fascinated by the breadth and depth of knowledge that has come thru the Vedic lineage. I honor and respect the religion of Hinduism that has enlivened these divine principles with a cast of colorful gods & goddesses to help us understand ourselves. And as for those skinny, dark-skinned men that got themselves all twisted up? Thank you! For teaching all of us what is possible once you wake up. Om shanti Om.